You are here: Home/News/ Parents Awarded $3.75 Million After Son Drowns

February 24, 2014 By: galadmin

Parents Awarded $3.75 Million After Son Drowns

A Colorado jury has awarded $3.75 million in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the parents of a 12-year-old boy who drowned in the shallow end of a country club pool.

The Denver Post reported that Bill and Melissa McGarvin-O’Melia, the boys’ parents, sued the Southglenn Country Club after their son, Drennen, drowned during a private birthday party on June 6, 2010. There were two lifeguards on duty at the time.

Drennen, who was found near the base of an unmanned lifeguard chair, was pulled out of the pool by another 12-year-old boy.

The O’Melia’s filed the wrongful death suit against the country club in November 2011, claiming lifeguards were inattentive and the club’s pool safety policies were inadequate.

In addition to the Southglenn Country Club, the lawsuit also named general manager (at the time), Jerald Nonko, and the two lifeguards on duty the day Drennan died, sisters Ana and Mary Malnati.

It was noted that Drennen was a strong swimmer who won several swim races the day before he drowned. Drennen was described as excelling in sports and as a leader in most of the youth programs in which he participated.

There were approximately 25 to 31 people in the pool when Drennen drowned.

During the six-day trial, an expert testified that Drennen was under water for at least five minutes before he was pulled out of the pool.

“He was under water too long and they missed him,” Melissa McGarvin-O’Melia said. “We knew all along that they had missed him and that there was shoddy work being done. Now, to finally be validated in that, gives us a little bit of closure.”

Southglenn Country Club officials declined to comment about the case.

The O’Melia’s still live in Centennial with their two younger sons. The family has created the Drennen’s Dream Fund at the Denver Foundation, a nonprofit organization working toward promoting and improving pool safety and supporting local youth programs. Drennen’s Dreams works to support and provide scholarships for those programs today.

For more information contact one of our Gacovino Lake attorneys at 1-800-246-HURT (4878).

Free Case Review

You Be The Judge

Introducing our new online series You Be the Judge where we take you in to pull back the curtain, investigate the facts, and let you draw your own conclusions.

Talcum Powder Linked to Cancer

Several studies — and the anecdotal evidence from thousands of women across the country — link the use of talcum powder on or near the genitals with ovarian cancer. This correlation is strong enough that juries across ... continue reading...

Contact Our Firm

Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C.
270 W Main St
Sayville, NY 11782

Phone: +1 (800) 550-0000
Phone: +1 (631) 600-0000
Fax: (631) 543-5450

Looking for something?

Attorney Advertising Legal Disclaimer – Admitted in NY, NJ, CT, and Washington, D.C. only. While this firm maintains joint responsibility, your case may be referred to local or trial counsel for primary handling. Not available in all states. Prior results cannot and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter, including yours, in which a lawyer or law firm may be retained.Site Map